A philanthropist, Amb. Akintayo Akintunde has been honored with the Nelson Mandela Leadership Award of Excellence by the West Africa Youth Council (WAYC).
Akintunde who was honored on Sunday at the Grand Capitol Hotel, appreciated the organisation for recognising him and his good deeds in the society.
He said that the award would spur him to do more and pass a message to others to impact their respective societies within their abilities.
He explained that his foundation, established in 2015, had helped many youths, widows, the needy in his community, Ile Oluji and provision of potable water through digging of boreholes.
Earlier, the President of WAYC, Amb. Matthew Ashanti, described Amb. Akintunde as a man of success that had excelled to better the lives of people especially in his community in his own capacity.
“We celebrate the giant works that he is doing for people of Africa especially in his community.
“A life of man is not worthy if he has not impacted his community. This awardee has helped people over the time and he needs to be recognised and celebrated,” he said.
Speaking on the African emancipation, Ashanti said “Nigeria is a major factor and a major player in Africa because of its largest population in the continent.
“If there is going to be a major emancipation in Africa, whether in policy or economy, Nigeria will be a pusher and mover. That is why the focus of African emancipation is really heaped on Nigeria,” he stated.
Ashanti asked youths in the continent to rise up to responsibilities and increase their capacity and expand their wings through education.
“Youths should stand up and build capacity.
“Nobody will put anything in your hand if you are not worth it.
He also decried many leaders in the continent for not having in-depth mindset in policy making that could affect the common man on the street.
Meanwhile, a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Mr. Ogundare Oluwaseyi, popularly known as OGO, said that the awardee deserved the award because he had done so much for transforming his community within his capacity.
Also, Miss Kemi Ogunduyule said that it was commendable that the organisation could give the award to Akintayo, adding that the awardee had really being helpful to his community and those he could reach within his resources.